Vacuum tank



July 15, 1930;

H. B. COATS VACUUM TANK Filed April 20. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l f4 r Idil!July 15, 1930.

H. B. COATS VACUUM TANK Filed April 20. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOK.#EN/rr ('0/7 715;

Patented July 15, 193A() r f l Y i Hanny B. coarsor vnnnnnsnueehnnmmlsiey VACUUM TANK Application tiled April 20, 1928. SeralNo. 271,431.

rlhis application relates to a vacuumv tank vation. Fig. 2 is the saineas Fig. 1 showing for use in connection with internal eoinbusa modifiedform. 1 tion engnies, particularly wherein the fuel ln the drawingsthere is shown a vacuum reservoir is located at a position below thetank comprising a supply chamber 11 corn- '5 normal' level of thecarburetor'. Inunioating with the carburetor through a The principal object of the invention is to tube 12 connected with the lower end thereof.provide a control mechanism for a vacuum -Reinovably supported upon thevacuum tank tank of this character, which eliminates the there is anupwardly extending cylinder 13 use of a float for Controlling the airandliqwhich-.provides a vacuum chamber 11i. The 10 uid lines, as hasheretofore been the practice. upper end of the vacuum chamber iseonnect- @o @ne feature of the invention resides in the ed with theintake manifold of an internal provision of a T{ialve construction which.eon- Combustion engine through a tube 15, protrols the suction line fordrawing the liquid vided wlth an end iitting 16 having a ball orgasoline into the vacuum chamber and the valve 17 therein. The ballvalve iSIHOHDtGd guile@ therefor into the supply tank. This 1n achamber-'18 formed in a fitting 16 and is o5 is accomplished by theprovisionof a dual held lll PGSltlOIl. by @perforated plate 1Q so valvecontrol having one valve niernber of 121S t0 be Capable of CloSing therelatively `greater seating area than the other valve larger suctiongort 2O at the sideof which is member so that the force applied. by thevae provlded a relatlvely Small Suction port 2l. 20 mm1 OH one Valvemember will Offset t0 a Cer- Also connected with the fitting 16 there isa 7e tain degree the force applied on the other, g'lSOlle feed line 22connected at its other Said Valve members @Ontmllng the Column end withthe main gasoline tank or reservoir of liquid drawn into the vacuunitank by 23 Y making and breaking the partial vacuum cre- Remol'ablySecured Wlllll the lllrl@ Q0 a 25 ated therein, upon the column ofliquid reachfeuOVulPle COV@ 24 the, 1S a VulVe moumul' 7 ing differentheights. Thus, when the eol- 2Q PYOVlCled Wl-h a Pall Of valve Seats 26and unin isA of suticient height to break the vac- 261B WulClfl theValVGS 2 8 31116129 31'@ uduled uuni, the valves will be operated topermitit t0 SGM?, Sild VillVeS belng COIlneeted by a to discharge intothe supply Chamberland VulV@ Stem The VllVG Seat 26 1S in coni- CII 30when the coluinn falls to a` point wherein the muncfaliou With theVacuum Chamber 151 80 n K U l valve is permitted toclose a vacuum willChoug'h .ul COuClul 31.2111@ thejvalve Seat 27' again be created anddraw more liquid into 1S 1H @Gmuluulci'tlou Vlh S2116 Vacuum Chl-l1--ik@ Hmmm Chambel f ber through a conduit 32 connected with an it. otherfeature of thel invention resides uPWadly @Xtendng tube 33 provided with35 in the valve control return line from the supuu OVGTUUIS Gnd 34:Ilefl lille tOp of Said 8 ply chamber which avoids the necessity ofVacuum Chamber- ,Euch @12116 ValV@ s eas 25 providing a Sapamteverowline to the tank and 27 are also in communication with the and permitsthe overflow to pass back to the SulQPlY chamba; 1L The VulVe "SQQ 25and tank through the feed line leading frein the VulVe 28 ur@ 0I guSltlllg area than tank to the vacuum chamber. This is accoin- Vul- VeSe@ 27 und ValVe 29 V01 the PUTIQOSQ 99 plished by provided asimilararrangement of Whh'wlllb heiuafe 'Sb OIth- K valve construction, as willbe hereinafter Tn@ SuPPll-hubelll l5 PTOVlled Wlth uu more speciieallyset forth and described. i upivldlv @Xieuulug Overflow pipe 35 con- Thefull nature of th@ invention will b@ nected witha tube 36 leading toavalve Chanimore Qleally uldlstood fron the accombel 11'1 l'yllS VllVGllOUSlIlg SllCl Cllillb 95 panyng drawings md thefouowng descripber 3'?communicates through a connection tion and claims. Y 39 with thegasoline supply tube 22. Said Eig 1 is g, @mm1 Vertical Section throughvalve housing isprovided with the valve seats the vacuum tank showingthe connections l() and 41, in which the valves 4:2 andgll, retherewithpartly in section and partly in elespectively, are adaptedto seat. rlhevalve 4G 10Q l is connected with the overfiow tube 36 and the valve 41is connected through a tube 44 with the air intake 45 mounted in thecover 24 of the tank 10.

In operation, the suction from the motor will create a partial vacuum inthe vacuum chamber 14 by reason of the valves 28 and `29 being closed.The vacuum created therein will draw the gasoline from the tank 23through the tube 22 into said chamber. When the suction is relativelysmall, air will be drawn from the vacuum chamber into the large port 20as Well as the smaller port 21. In event the suction is increased to alarge degree by the operation of the motor, the ball valve 13 will besucked into closing position against the port 20 so as to shut ofl saidport and thereby cause the suction to be reduced by requiring the air topass through the smaller port 21.

Upon a suliicient amount of gasoline being drawn into the vacuum chamber14, the Weight of the column of .liquid therein will bear directlyagainst the valve 28, tending to open the same while no liquid will bearagainst the upper valve 29. Thus, there is a balancing of the weight of'the column of liquid against the pressure of' the air on the valvecaused by the partial vacuum. As the air pressure against the valve 28tending to close the same is slightly greater than the air pressureagainst the valve 29 tending to open the same, said pressures will benearly balanced, but since the valve 28 has a greater seating area thanthe valve 2?', the difference in pressure between the two will normallymaintain said valves in closed position. U on this differential airpressure, which is re atively small, being overcome by the weight of thecolumn of liquid, the valves will be forced o en and the liquid willfreely pass through t e valve 28 into the supply chamber 11 until thecolumn in the vacuum chamber and conduit 31 has fallen to a point Wherethe Weight of the reduced column fails to overcome the Weight of thevalves 28 and 29 and their connecting valve stem 30,whereupon the valveswill close and again cause the liquid to be drawn into the vacuumchamber to such a height as will cause the cycle, above described, to berepeated.`

It Awill be noted that during the above action the opening of the valve28 causes the opening of' the valve 29 which permits air from the supplychamber 11 to passupwardlyv through the tube 33 into the vacuum chamberso as to permit the free flow of liquid therefrom. The Weight of theliquid, after the vacuum is broken, will maintain the valves in openposition until they are again closed by the action of the vacuumpressure building up more rapidly than the air is allowed to passthrough the valves causing the valves to snap shut by reason of theweight of the valve assisted by the action of the vacuum over-balancingthe weight of the liquid.

A distinct advantage is obtained over the float control types of vacuumtanks which cause a slower filling action when the motor is under heavyduty. Inasmuch as the motor under heavy load requires a greater quantityof liquid fuel, this often results in the supply tank being drainedbefore the control valves are operated and a new supply is introduced,as is well known and understood in the art. By reason of thisconstruction there is a more rapid action of the valves since the heavypull on the motor will create a smaller degree of vacuum requiring alesser quantity or column of liquid to overcome the act-ion of thevacuum on the valves so as to cause a discharge action through thevalves to occur at lesser intervals. Therefore, instead of the supplytank being drained on a long and hard pull, such as climbing a longhill, it will be replenished at closer intervals.

liVith respect to the overflow, upon the level in the supply tankreaching the top ofl the overflow pipe 35, the liquid will pass throughthe tube and have suii'icient weight to overcome the differential inpressure exerted on the combined valves 42 and 43, thus opening saidvalves so as to pass into the chamber 37 and then into the supply tube22 back to the tank 23. In this connection it will be noted that thevalve 43 is of greater seating area than the valve 42 and theatmospheric pressure is exerted on the larger valve 43 through the tube44 so as to constantly effect a downward pressure on said valves fornormally holding them in closed position which pressure is augmented bythe suction through the tube 22 by the partial vacuum in the chamber 14which causes a partial vacuum to be maintained in the chamber 37. lVhcnthe column of liquid discharging through the overflow pipe 35 issufficient to overcome this pressure which is in fact the weight of thevalves aided by the suction created through the tube 22, saidvalves willbe opened. When said valves are open, air may be drawn into the chamber14 through the tube 22 from the chamber 37 and tube 44 so 'that no fluidwill be drawn into the vacuum chamber 14 so long as the level in thesupply chamber is above the top of the over-flow pipe. This preventst-he i'iossibility of flooding the motor.

Since the partial vacuum in the tank 14 is broken by the opening of thevalves 42 and 43 the liquid passing therethrough will readily return bygravity to the tank 23. However, immediately upon the weight off thecolumn of' liquid being reduced so as to permit said valves to close,thereupon the partial vacuum in the tank 14 will immediately draw theliquid not only from the chamber 37 but from the tank 23. Since theseating area of the valve 43 is greater than the seating area of thevalve 42 thereby causing the air pressure tial size of the lvalves to beovercome in addif tionto the vweight of the valves, the vibration ormovement of kthe vehicle upon which the tank is used will not act toaccidently open the valves and thereby break the vacuum line to thechamber 14. v y Y y In the modified form shown in Fig. V2, there isprovided a tank llOhavinga supply chamber 111 with an outlet 112 leadingto the carburetor. The tank is divided so as to provide a vacuum chamber113 having'a liquid con tainer 114 mounted therein provided with vents115 near the top thereof. The chamber 113 is connected with the intakeofthe motor through the tube 116 and the chamber 114 is connected withthe supply tank through the tube 117. V

rlhere is a vent 118 in the top oi the'tank communicating with thechamber 113 through the valve 119 which is connected through the valvestem 120 with the'llap valve 121 controlling a passage between thechambers 114 and 113 at the bottom thereof.

Chambers 111 and 113 are separated by a partition 122 but are incommunication through `a valve 123. An overflow standpipe 124 is mountedin the chamber 113 and connected with the overllow tube 125 leading backto the tank. rlhe tank 111 is also provided with an air vent tube 126.

ln operation, a partial vacuum is created in the chamber 113'and is alsoexerted in the chamber 114 through the vents 115 thus drawing liquidthrough the tube 117 into the chamber 114. :Upon the column ot liquid inthe chamber 114 bearing upon the valve 121 suflicient to overcome theatmospheric pressure exerted on the smaller valve 119, the fluid willliow from the chamber 114 into the chamber 113 and through the valve 123into the chamber 111.

The invention claimed isz 1. A vacuum tank tor elevating liquidscomprising a vacuum chamber and a supply chamber, means for creating apartial vacuum in said vacuum chamber for drawing a liquid therein, 'anda valve positioned intermediate said chambers adapted to be normallylheld in closed position by the partial vacuum for maintaining theliquid in the vacuum chamber and be opened by the pressure eX- (itlerted on said valve by reason of the weight of the column of liquid insaid vacum chamber when said pressure is sufficient to overcome thevacuum for permitting said liquid to pass into said supply chamber.

2. ik vacuum tank Jfor elevating liquids comprising a vacuum chamber anda supply chamber, means for creating a partial vac num in said vacuumchamber for drawing a liquid therein, and a pair ofV valves forcontrolling the connection between said chambers, one of said valveshaving a greater seating area'than the other, means for connecting saidvalves so as to cause them toopen and close together, vthe larger 'ofsaid valves controlling the liquid passage between said chambers and thesmaller valve controlling the air passage therebetween.

3. A vacuum tank for elevating liquids comprising a vacuum chamber and asupply chamber, means for creating a partial vacuum inv said vacuumchamber for drawing a liquid therein, an air passage between saidchambers, a liquid passage therebetween, valves for controlling saidpassages connected together as a unit and having` varying valveseats,the pressure exerted by the partial vacuum tending to close the largervalve and open the smaller one for obtaining a dit- ;terential ofpressure normally holding said valves in closed position and permittingthem to be opened for breaking the vacuum upon the weight of the liquidovercoming said dii terential et pressure. e

4. A vacuum tank for elevatingr liquids comprising a vacuum chamber anda supply chamber, means for creating a .partial vac- -uum in said vacuumchamber for drawing a liquid therein, a pair of connected valvesinterposed between said chambers, one of said valves being larger thanthe other, the pressure exerted on said valves by the vacuum tending teclose the larger valve and open the smaller valve, whereby thedifferential in pressure thereon will maintain said valves normally inclosed position, one of said valves` cont-rolling an air passage and theother controlling a liquid passage between said chambers whereby saidvalves will be opened when the liquid in said passage is suliicient toeX- yert a pressure adapted to overcome the diferential in vacuumpressure exerted thereon.

5. A. vacuum tank for elevating liquids comprising a vacuum chamber anda supply chamber, means for Vcreating a partial vacuum in said vacuumchamber for drawing a liquid therein, a valve head secured within one etsaid chambers having a liquid passage and an air passage communicatingtherebetween, stand pipe extending upwardly toward the top et saidvacuum chamber and connected with the airpassage Yfor prevent-V ingliquid Yfrom passing therein, a valve for' controlling said air passage,a larger valve for controlling said liquid passage and connected withthe smaller valve to act as a unit, the pressure created by the vacuumtending to open the smaller valve and close the larger valve, wherebythey will be held in normally closed position under. differential olipressureand be opened by the weight et the liquid built up in saidpassage andvacuum chamber when said differential ol pressure is overcomeso as to permit the liquid to pass into said supply'chan'iber and causethe vacuum to be broken.

6. T he combination with a vacuum tank having vacuum and supply chambersand a los "fwim) liquid reservoir, of a feed connection between saidreservoir and vacuum chamber through which liquid may be drawn therein,of an overflow pipe in said supply chamber, and a valve controlledchamber connected to said feed connection and overflow pipe for.permltting excess liquid to pass from said supply tank to saidreservoir.

7. The combination with a vacuum tank having vacuum and supply chambersand a liquid Vreservoir, of a feed connection between said reservoir andvacuum chamber through which liquid may be drawn therem, of an overllowpipe in said supply chamber, a conduit connecting said overflow pipe andfeed connection through which excess liquid in said supply tank may passto said reservoir, and a valve in said conduit adapted to preventpassage of liquid therethrough and seal said feed connection against airintake when in one position, and permit the flow of liquid therethroughwhile breaking the vacuum and permitting the in-flow of air when in theother position.

8. The combination with a vacuum tank having vacuum and supply chambers,and a liquid reservoir, of a feed connection between sald reservoir andvacuum chamber through which liquid may be drawn therein, of an overflowpipe in said supply chamber, a conduit connecting said overflow pipe andfeed connection through which excess liquid in said supply tank may passto said reservoir, and a valve in said conduit adapted to prevent assageof liquid therethrough and seal said eed connection against air intakewhen in one position, and permit the flow of liquid therethrough whilebreaking the vacuum and permitting the in-flow of air when in the otherposition, said valve being actuated by the Weight of the column ofliquid in said standpipe and conduit.

9. The combination with a vacuum tank having vacuum and supply chambersand a liquid reservoir, of a feed connection between said reservoir andvacuum chamber through ywhich liquid may be drawn therein, of anoverflow pipe in said supply chamber, a valve controlled chamberconnected with said standpipe and feed connection, a valve in Saidchamber for controlling the passage of liquid therein from saidstandpipe, a second valve connected with the first for controlling thepassage of air into said chamber, said valves being so arranged that theair pressure on the last-mentioned valve is adapted to maintain saidvalves normally in closed position while permitting the same to beopened upon the weight of the liquid exerting a pressure against theiirst-mentioued valve sutliciently to overcome the air pressure on thelast-mentioned valve, whereby liquid will be permitted to pass into saidchamber r'through the first-mentioned valve and air may pass therein forbreaking the vacuum through the last-mentioned valve.

10. The combination with a vacuum tank having vacuum and supplychambers, and a liquid reservoir, of a feed connection bet-Ween saidreservoir and vacuum chamber through which liquid may be drawn therein,of an overflow pipe in said supply chamber, and a valve for controllingthe passage of liquid from said overflow pipe to said feed connectionadapted to normally maintain a vacuum in said feed connection and closethe same to said overflow pipe and break the vacuum to said feedconnection and open its communication with said overflow pipe whensuilicient pressure is exerted thereagainst by a column of liquid insaid overflow pipe.

11. In combination, a vacuum tank having vacuum and supplying chambers,a liquid reservoir, a feed connection between said reservoir and saidvacuum chamber, an overflow pipe in Vsaid supply chamber and a valve sopositioned with respect to said overflow pipe as to be operable by thepressure of liquid therein to control the flow of liquid through saidfeed pipe.

12. In combination, a vacuum tank having vacuum and supply chambers, aliquid reservoir, a feed pipe connecting said reservoir and said vacuumchamber, an air intake open to the atmosphere communicating with saidfeed pipe, an overflow pipe in said supply chamber and a valvepositioned between said air intake and said feed pipe operable by thepressure of liquid in said overflow pipe to control the admission of airinto said feed pipe.

13. In combination, a vacuum tank having vacuum and supply chambers, aliquid reservoir, a valve, a conduit connecting said valve and saidvacuum chamber, a second conduit connecting said valve and said liquidreservoir, and an overflow pipe in said supply chamber, connecting tosaid valve, said valve being operable by the pressure of liquid' in saidoverflow pipe to allow the flow of liquid from said supply chamberthrough said overflow pipe and the second conduit to the liquidreservoir.

14. The combination as defined in claim 13 characterized by the valvesimultaneously allowing the flow of liquid as aforesaid and preventingthe flow of liquid through the first conduit.

15. In combination, a vacuum tank having vacuum and supply chambers, aliquid reservoir, a feed connection between said reservoir and saidvacuum chamber, and a valve operable by the overHow of liquid from saidsupply chamber to prevent a flow of liquid through said feed connection,said valve having two ports of unequal size.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

HENRY B. COATS.

